Max Crook
Encyclopedia
Maxfield Doyle Crook is an American musician, a pioneer of electronic music
in pop
. He probably remains best known as the featured soloist on Del Shannon
's 1961 hit "Runaway
", which he co-wrote and on which he played his own invention, the Musitron. He also recorded as Maximilian.
, moving as a child to Ann Arbor, Michigan
. He first learned to play the accordion
, before taking up the piano
, and by the time he was fourteen he had already built his own studio. In 1957, after studying at the University of New Mexico
, he enrolled at Western Michigan University
in Kalamazoo where he formed a rock and roll group called The White Bucks, who released a single, "Get That Fly", on Dot Records in 1959.
In the same year he built a monophonic
synthesizer
, which he called the Musitron, out of a clavioline
enhanced with additional resistors, television tubes, and parts from household appliances, old amplifiers and reel-to-reel tape machines. Crook was unable to patent the Musitron because most of its components were already patented products. He first used it for recording at a session at Berry Gordy
's studio in Detroit, on an unreleased version of "Bumble Boogie" (the tune later recorded by B. Bumble and the Stingers
) for which he also used a crude self-made four-track tape recorder. The sound of the Musitron was influential on other musicians and producers, including Gordy, Joe Meek
, Ennio Morricone
, John Barry
and Roy Wood
.
Later in 1959, he met Charles Westover, yet to take the stage name Del Shannon
, who asked him to join his band, "Charlie Johnson and the Big Little Show Band", as keyboard player. They signed a recording contract in 1960, and Crook began playing the Musitron onstage for the first time soon afterwards. During a live set one night, Crook hit an unusual chord change going from A-minor to G, and he and Del Shannon developed the lick into a song, which became "Runaway". In January 1961, Shannon and Crook recorded "Runaway", which soon became an international hit.
Crook also recorded a series of instrumentals, credited as Maximilian. These included "The Snake" (a hit in Argentina
), and later "The Twistin' Ghost" and "Greyhound" (both hits in Canada
). For a time he took over as leader of Shannon's old band based in Battle Creek, Michigan
, which became "The Maximilian Band", but he left the group in late 1962 for a solo career. He also set up his own record label, Double A, in Ann Arbor. Later in the 1960s he worked as an electronic duo with Scott Ludwig, billed as "The Sounds of Tomorrow", performing instrumental versions of current hits.
installer and firefighter, before returning to recording with Del Shannon and Brian Hyland
. Hyland's version of Curtis Mayfield
's "Gypsy Woman
", featuring Crook's keyboards, became a hit in 1970. Crook also wrote the score for James Sturgen's movie Time and Beyond. In the 1980s he began performing gospel and spiritual music
, recording an album Good News!.
In 2003, he was featured on Joe G & The Zippity Doo Wop Band's remake of Del Shannon's "So Long Baby" playing the honking Musitron riff from Shannon's recording, as well as a solo in the higher "Runaway" register that would have replaced the kazoo solo in the 1961 record had they not run out of tracks. He can be seen in the group's music video of the song filmed in Shannon's hometown of Coopersville, MI. In September 2004, he also performed at a tribute show to the late Del Shannon in Saratoga, NY with Joe Glickman (Joe G), only his second time in the Empire State since recording "Runaway" over 40 years earlier.
He now lives in Deming, New Mexico
.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
in pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. He probably remains best known as the featured soloist on Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
's 1961 hit "Runaway
Runaway (Del Shannon song)
"Runaway" was a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song made famous by Del Shannon in 1961. It was written by Shannon and keyboardist Max Crook, and became a major international hit...
", which he co-wrote and on which he played his own invention, the Musitron. He also recorded as Maximilian.
Early life and career
Crook was born in Lincoln, NebraskaLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, moving as a child to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. He first learned to play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, before taking up the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and by the time he was fourteen he had already built his own studio. In 1957, after studying at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, he enrolled at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
in Kalamazoo where he formed a rock and roll group called The White Bucks, who released a single, "Get That Fly", on Dot Records in 1959.
In the same year he built a monophonic
Monophony
In music, monophony is the simplest of textures, consisting of melody without accompanying harmony. This may be realized as just one note at a time, or with the same note duplicated at the octave . If the entire melody is sung by two voices or a choir with an interval between the notes or in...
synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, which he called the Musitron, out of a clavioline
Clavioline
The clavioline is an electronic keyboard instrument, a forerunner to the analog synthesizer.It was invented by Constant Martin in 1947. It consists of a keyboard and a separate amplifier and speaker unit. The keyboard usually covered three octaves, and had a number of switches to alter the tone of...
enhanced with additional resistors, television tubes, and parts from household appliances, old amplifiers and reel-to-reel tape machines. Crook was unable to patent the Musitron because most of its components were already patented products. He first used it for recording at a session at Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
's studio in Detroit, on an unreleased version of "Bumble Boogie" (the tune later recorded by B. Bumble and the Stingers
B. Bumble and the Stingers
B. Bumble and the Stingers were an American instrumental ensemble in the early 1960s, who specialized in making rock and roll arrangements of classical melodies. Their biggest hits were "Bumble Boogie" and "Nut Rocker", which reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1962...
) for which he also used a crude self-made four-track tape recorder. The sound of the Musitron was influential on other musicians and producers, including Gordy, Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
, Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
, John Barry
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
and Roy Wood
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
.
Later in 1959, he met Charles Westover, yet to take the stage name Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
, who asked him to join his band, "Charlie Johnson and the Big Little Show Band", as keyboard player. They signed a recording contract in 1960, and Crook began playing the Musitron onstage for the first time soon afterwards. During a live set one night, Crook hit an unusual chord change going from A-minor to G, and he and Del Shannon developed the lick into a song, which became "Runaway". In January 1961, Shannon and Crook recorded "Runaway", which soon became an international hit.
Crook also recorded a series of instrumentals, credited as Maximilian. These included "The Snake" (a hit in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
), and later "The Twistin' Ghost" and "Greyhound" (both hits in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
). For a time he took over as leader of Shannon's old band based in Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, which became "The Maximilian Band", but he left the group in late 1962 for a solo career. He also set up his own record label, Double A, in Ann Arbor. Later in the 1960s he worked as an electronic duo with Scott Ludwig, billed as "The Sounds of Tomorrow", performing instrumental versions of current hits.
Later career
In the late 1960s he moved to California and worked as a burglar alarmBurglar alarm
Burglar , alarms are systems designed to detect unauthorized entry into a building or area. They consist of an array of sensors, a control panel and alerting system, and interconnections...
installer and firefighter, before returning to recording with Del Shannon and Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland is an American pop recording artist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s...
. Hyland's version of Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
's "Gypsy Woman
Gypsy Woman
Gypsy Woman is a 2001 film written by Steven Knight....
", featuring Crook's keyboards, became a hit in 1970. Crook also wrote the score for James Sturgen's movie Time and Beyond. In the 1980s he began performing gospel and spiritual music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, recording an album Good News!.
In 2003, he was featured on Joe G & The Zippity Doo Wop Band's remake of Del Shannon's "So Long Baby" playing the honking Musitron riff from Shannon's recording, as well as a solo in the higher "Runaway" register that would have replaced the kazoo solo in the 1961 record had they not run out of tracks. He can be seen in the group's music video of the song filmed in Shannon's hometown of Coopersville, MI. In September 2004, he also performed at a tribute show to the late Del Shannon in Saratoga, NY with Joe Glickman (Joe G), only his second time in the Empire State since recording "Runaway" over 40 years earlier.
He now lives in Deming, New Mexico
Deming, New Mexico
Deming is a city in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, located 60 miles west of Las Cruces. The population was 14,116 at the 2000 census. Deming is the county seat and principal town of Luna County.-History:...
.